Lord Rama's Birth Place Ayodhya | Shri Ram Temple Ayodhya

Shri Ram Temple Ayodhya

About the city -

Ayodhya is situated on the right bank of the river Ghagra or Saryu, as it is called within sacred precincts, on latitude 26o 48’ north and longitude 82o 13’ east in north India. Just 6 km from Faizabad, Ayodhya is a popular pilgrim centre. This town is closely associated with Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The ancient city of Ayodhya,according to the Ramayana, was founded by Manu, the law-giver of the Hindu. For centuries, it was the capital of the descendants of the Surya dynasty of which Lord Rama was the most celebrated king. Ayodhya during ancient times was known asKaushaldesa.

Skand and some other Puranas rank Ayodhya as one of the seven most sacred cities of India. It was the venue of many an event in Hindu mythology, today pre-eminently a temple town, Ayodhya is also famous for its close association with the epic Ramayana. It is a city of immense antiquity full of historical significance and sacred temples. The Atharvaveda described Ayodhya as `a city built by Gods and being prosperous as paradise itself’. The illustrious ruling dynasty of this region were the Ikshvakus of the solar clan (Suryavansa). According to tradition, Ikshvakus was the eldest son of Vaivasvata Manu, who established himself at Ayodhya. The earth is said to have derived its name `Prithivi’ from Prithu, the 6th king of the line. A few generations later came Mandhatri, in whose line the 31st king was Harischandra, known widely for his love of truth. Raja Sagar of the same clan performed the Asvamedha Yajna and his great grandson Bhagiratha is reputed to have brought Ganga on earth by virtue of his penance. Later in the time came the great Raghu, after whom the family came to be called as Raghuvamsha. His grandson was Raja Dasaratha, the illustrious father of Rama, with whom the glory of the Kausala dynasty reached its highest point. The story of this epic has been immortalized by Valmiki and immensely popularized by the great masses through centuries.

Ayodhya is pre-eminently a city of temples.

Remnants of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam can still be found in Ayodhya. According to Jain tradition, five Tirthankaras were born at Ayodhya, including Adinath (Rishabhadeva) the 1st Tirthankar.

Sights to See -

The Hanuman Garhi:Situated in the centre of the town, this temple is approachable by a flight of 76 steps. Legend has it that Hanuman lived here in a cave and guarded the Janambhoomi or Ramkot. The main temple contains the statue of Maa Anjani, with Bal Hanuman seated on her lap. The faithful believe that all their wishes are granted with a visit to this holy shrine. A massive structure in the shape of a four sided fort with circular bastions at each corner houses a temple of Hanuman and is the most popular shrine in Ayodhya.

Kanak Bhawan:This has images of Sri Rama and Sita wearing gold crowns. It is also known as Sone-ke-Ghar.

Ramkot:The chief place of worship in Ayodhya is the site of the ancient citadel of Ramkot which stands on an elevated ground in the western part of the city. Although visited by pilgrims throughout the year, this sacred place attracts devotees from all over India and abroad, on `Ram Navami’, the day of Lord’s birth, which is celebrated with great pomp and show, in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April).

Swarg Dwar:According to mythology, Lord Rama is said to have been cremated here.

Treta ke Thakur:This temple stands at the place where Rama is said to have performed the Ashvamedha Yajnya. About 300 years ago the Raja of kulu built a new temple here, which was improved by Ahalyabai Hokar of Indore during 1784, at the same time the adjoining Ghats were also built. The initial idols in black sandstone were recovered from Saryu and placed in the new temple, famous as Kaleram-ka-Mandir.

Nageshwarnath Temple:The temple of Nageshwarnath is said to have been established by Kush the son of Rama. Legend has it that Kush lost his armlet, while bathing in the Saryu, which was picked up by a Nag-Kanya, who fell in love with him. As she was a devotee of Shiva, Kush erected this temple for her. It is said that this has been the only temple to have survived till the time of Vikramaditya, the rest of city had fallen into ruins and was covered by dense forests. It was by means of this temple that Vikramaditya was able to locate Ayodhya and the sites of different shrines here. The festival of Shivratri is celebrated here with great pomp and splendour.

Mani Parbat and Sugriv Parbat:The first of these ancient earth mounds is identified with a stupa built by the Emperor Ashoka, while the second is believed to be an ancient monastery.

Ram Janmabhoomi (Hindi/Devanagiri: राम जन्मभूमि) is believed by many Hindus to be the birthplace of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. "Lord Rama" is referred as the god and described as an Avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu according to the Hindu theology and tradition. The exact location of Lord Rama's birth as stated in holy Ramayana is on the banks of Sarayu river in the city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pardesh. In 1528 Babur built a mosque. From 1528 to 1853 (the year of the first riot regarding the birthplace), the Babri Mosque became a place of worship for Muslims. From 1853 to 1949, separate areas were earmarked for both Hindus and Muslims to worship and in 1949, Idols were placed inside the disputed structure. The site of the Babri Mosque which was surrounded on all sides by Mata Sita Rasoi (Lord Rama's wife Sita Devi's Kitchen - actually a Temple and other Temples of Hanuman) and the disputed structure sharing walls with Sita and Hanuman Mandir was destroyed when a political rally developed into a riot involving 150,000 people. This happened due to the movement that was launched in 1984 by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP party) to reclaim the site for Hindus who want to erect a temple dedicated to the infant Rama (Ramlalla), at this spot.

Many Muslim organizations have continued to express outrage at the destruction of the disputed structure. Since then, the matter is sub-judice and this political, historical and socio-religious debate over the history and location of the Babri Mosque, is known as the Ayodhya Debate.

References such as the 1986 edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica reported that "Rama’s birthplace is marked by a mosque, erected by the Moghul emperor Babur in 1528 on the site of an earlier temple".According to the Hindu view, the ancient temple could have been destroyed on the orders of Mughal emperor Babur. Claims have been made that worship took place on a platform called the "Ram Chabutara" prior to Independence. According to British sources, Hindus and Muslims (who came from Faizabad) used to worship together in the disputed structure in the 19th century until about 1855. P. Carnegy wrote in 1870:

"It is said that up to that time, the Hindus and Mohamedans alike used to worship in the mosque-temple. Since the British rule a railing has been put up to prevent dispute, within which, in the mosque the Mohamedans pray, while outside the fence the Hindus have raised a platform on which they make their offerings. This platform was outside the disputed structure but within its precincts. Hindu protagonists say that they have been demanding the return of the site for centuries, and cite accounts from several western travellers to India during the Mughal rule in India.

Ayodhya -

Ayodhya pronunciation (Sanskrit: अयोध्या, Urdu: ایودھیا‎, IAST Ayodhyā), also known as Saket (Sanskrit: साकेत, Urdu: ساکیت‎) is an ancient city of India, birthplace of the Lord Vishnu Hindu avatar Rama, and setting of the epic Ramayana. It is situated adjacent to Faizabad city at south end in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya used to be the capital of the ancient Kosala Kingdom, and has an average elevation of 93 meters (305 feet).

Excavations -

Before 2003, the standard view that an ancient Ram Janmabhoomi temple was demolished and replaced with the Babri Mosque, was not supported by any archaeological evidence. References such as the 1986 edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica reported that "Rama’s birthplace is marked by a mosque, erected by the Mughal emperor Babur in 1528 on the site of an earlier temple".15th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, 1986, entry "Ayodhya," Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.

However, archaeological excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1970, 1992 and 2003 in and around the disputed site have clearly found the evidence indicating that a large Hindu complex existed on the site. In 2003, by the order of an Indian Court, The Archaeological Survey of India was asked to conduct a more indepth study and an excavation to ascertain the type of structure that was beneath the rubble indicated definite proof of a temple under the mosque.However, it could not be ascertained if it was a Rama temple as remnant had more resemblance to a Shiva temple. In the words of ASI researchers, they discovered "distinctive features associated with... temples of north India". The excavations yielded:

"stone and decorated bricks as well as mutilated sculpture of a divine couple and carved architectural features, including foliage patterns, amalaka, kapotapali, doorjamb with semi-circular shrine pilaster, broke octagonal shaft of black schist pillar, lotus motif, circular shrine having pranjala (watershute) in the north and 50 pillar bases in association with a huge structure"

Jonathan Walters remarks: "The impact of the 2003 discovery of Buddhist ruins underlying both Hindu and Muslim layers at Ayodhya remains to be seen." Before the archaeological opinion was published, there were some differing viewpoints. In his Communal History and Rama's Ayodhya, written prior to the ASI researches, Professor Ram Sharan Sharma writes, "Ayodhya seems to have emerged as a place of religious pilgrimage in medieval times. Although chapter 85 of the Vishnu Smriti lists as many as fifty-two places of pilgrimage, including towns, lakes, rivers, mountains, etc., it does not include Ayodhya in this list. Sharma also notes that Tulsidas, who wrote the Ramcharitmanas in 1574 at Ayodhya, does not mention it as a place of pilgrimage. This suggests that there was no significant Hindu temple at the site of the Babri Mosque., or that it had ceased to be one, after the mosque was built. After the demolition of the mosque in 1992, Professor Ram Sharan Sharma along with historians Suraj Bhan, M.Athar Ali and Dwijendra Narayan Jha wrote the Historian's report to the nation saying that the assumption that there was a temple at the disputed site was mistaken, and no valid reason to destroy the mosque. The 2010 Allahabad High Court judgement came down heavily on these "eminent" historians, with one of the judges remarking that he was "surprised to see in the zeal of helping… the parties in whose favour they were appearing, these witnesses went ahead… and wrote a totally new story".

NDTV to begin construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya: sources -

New Delhi. Frustrated by the inactivity of BJP on the Ram Mandir issue despite the fact that it was strongly hinted by the its ‘sources’, NDTV themselves will begin the construction of the Mandir at Ayodhya, our sources have indicated, apparently to inspire BJP to take up the matter.

Commenting on the report, Vikas Khanna, Marketing Head of NDTV said, “The news is true. This is our strategic shift from News Reporting to News Forecasting, and even, as in this case, News Facilitating. Since our ‘sources’ have confirmed, means sooner or later it is going to happen! So we will start the construction, maybe a floor or two and inspire BJP to take up a matter so close to its heart, but which it is ignoring right now.”

Unconfirmed sources say that a model of the temple was found at NDTV office

He continued, over a cup of tea, this time on the condition of anonymity.

“Man, we have invested heavily in anticipation of Ayodhya issue gaining heat before the elections. We have hired Ram Janmabhoomi and Babri experts of early 90′s. Got the historians out of the relics of history, you see. Turns out that our source was in fact close to a source, who was close to the aide of a VHP member. I think he was his Paanwala. Now, if BJP won’t build it, then by God, we will!” said Kickass Khanna (name changed).

Sources of our sources have further confirmed that NDTV has outsourced the construction owing to lack of resources.

“Our journalists are not expected to go out there in open and do physical labor to create news temple, so we have outsourced it to a real estate company,” an NDTV source confirmed.

A section of NDTV claimed that they were vindicated by Rajnath Singh’s this statement and hence there was nothing unethical in going ahead with the construction of the temple.

When contacted by Faking News, Rajnath Singh Rajnath Singh’s aide said, “Yaar, bhavanao ko samjho! I was, err… I mean the BJP President was, at Maha Kumbh Mela. Not just any Mela, not even a Kumbh Mela, but Maha Kumbh Mela! There were crores of devotees and VHP men, especially Togadia. You can’t say we can’t build Ram Mandir in front of such people. It’s like saying Afzal Guru was guilty in front of Arundhati Roy!”

“I, err… I mean the BJP President, cannot speak more; have big shoes to fill,” his aide said, staring at a huge pair of shoes in the corner.

THE Evidence of Shri Ram Mandir in Holy City Ayodhya -

For true history and evidence of Ayodhya (one of the seven Holiest cities for Hindus as per Vedic Scriptures), brutality of Muslim/Mughal rulers like Babur, evidence of Shri Ram Mandir destroyed by Babur in 1528, and persecution of over a Million Hindus who died protecting Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, please watch the following documentaries and read the articles (with archaeological proof pictures) given below: